builderofstuff

I can imagine the smile was a mile wide. I know for me, some of my all time favorite projects were ones that I made as presents. Chris

excellent work! it's always a good feeling when we can use our skills to do something nice for someone. Chris

I'm probably not the best person to try to explain why using a casting of a foot isn't the best way to go. I know there are some other members here with way more experience that I could hope to have. Have a look here for an explanation of why this isn't the best approach http://customcowboybootsandshoesforum.com/discus/messages/20/13263.html?1267538877 Chris

I downloaded the Golding 1 file from thehcc.org and it does indeed have some really good information in there. I think it would make excellent additional material to the Koleff book and dvd, however I still think the book and dvd present an easier to follow method. However that's just my 2 cents and I would never presume to speak for anyone else. Chris

And that pdf tells you how to calculate and design the last so that you can make them based off of the foot measurements? Chris

I know the topic of making shoe lasts has come up on the forum here a number of times, I know a few of those post have been mine. hahaha But I wanted to pass along some information to the forum that might help those who are interested in making shoe lasts themselves. For those interested I would like to recommend Walrus Shoes website and the last making info they offer. http://www.walrusshoe.com/books_pages/lasts.htm I received by copy of the book and dvd today in the mail and I wanted to pass along my review I guess you could call it. My first impression when I visited the site was that the cost seemed a bit steep, however after having gotten the materials today and having gone over them I personally feel that it was money well spent. I've been looking for last making information for some time now and the combination of the book and dvd finally gave me the information I was looking for and laid it out in a format that was easy to understand right from the beginning. The book itself is not very thick, and upon taking it from the packaging I was a bit concerned that a "thin" manual was going to leave me disappointed. I'm glad to say that the very opposite was the case, the manual was very thorough, very well laid out, and not overly complicated. There is no fluff in the book, it's simply cover to cover information that is easy to understand. I went back and forth on whether or not to get the dvd when I ordered the book and I think it was worth the money I spent on it. Again, like the book, it's not a very long video, but like the book it's also not filled with any unnecessary fluff, just all how to actually make a last. After having the information long enough to read through the book and watch the video I feel confident that I could take the foot measurements and make a last that would work. The book covers how to design the last as well as make it, and the video goes over the how it's made part. You could get by with just the book, but the dvd I thought was really great because I could actually see what was being done. However you won't be able to get just the dvd, all of the information and calculations on how the shape of the last is determined is in the book. So I mainly wanted to pass along the information to the rest of the forum because I know that I myself spent a lot of time trying to find easy to understand information about how to make a last. I have no affiliation with Walrus Shoes, I simply wanted to pass along the information about my experience in hopes that it might help others on the forum who have an interest in making footwear, and would like to make their own lasts. I hope this information will be useful to others. Chris

You know I generally don't go for lacing much myself, but this really is beautiful. I think the two tone lacing really adds something to the project. Chris

excellent work Chris

beautiful as always bob

excellent tutorial chris

beautiful work Chris

Thanks. I came across the book that Larry has, and I plan to order that today. Chris

Thank you very much for the links. Chris

I did a search of this section to see if I could find any information about lasts but since the search returned 0 results I thought I would make a post to see if anyone might be able to help me out. Since getting involved in leatherworking I've become more and more interested in making shoes and boots. The thing that eludes me is finding information on making lasts. Why would I want to make lasts? I guess it has to do with my DIY nature. I like the idea of being able to make the things I need to do different jobs. I've been considering ordering a copy of the book American Last Making from shoetrades.com, but at $68 for a copy I'm a bit afraid of ordering yet another book on shoe making and it not being what I need. Does anyone have any knowledge of this book or last making in general? It seems to be an area of shoe making that has either been completely abandoned in the circle of available information, or it's something that's so closely guarded that those of us who want to do it as part of our hobbies will never be able to learn it. As I said I've considered ordering American Last Making, but at that price I just hate to risk the cash if the book isn't really going to tell you how to layout and make a last. Chris

I would really love to build a scaled saddle, but I'd really like to be able to make my own tree for it. I'm afraid though if I asked anyone in the business for enough basic information to make a simple scaled likeness of a full scale tree they either wouldn't respond or they would be offended. Chris

I love the design and I think the tooling on the antlers is just right. When you make these for your clients do you have them sit for you so you can mold it to their particular face? Or do you use a generic mold for them? Chris

excellent work and design

I love it!! Beautiful work Chris

That is absolutely gorgeous, you should definitely be proud of that! I've always thought it would be a really cool project to build a scale saddle since I have no desire or need to build a full scale one, but I'm curious if you make your own trees or do you buy them? That's something that seems to be a dying art , or at least one that is so closely guarded that no one knows how to do it other than those already doing it. Chris

wow that is beautiful! excellent work. Chris

very nice! excellent work

beautiful work

That is a beauty for sure! I love the pattern of the pattern welded steel. Chris

I think it looks great. I really like it.

beautiful work! Chris